The symposium brings together a diverse audience made of leading voices from business, civil society, academia, and the public sector to discuss practical cases, introduced by the protagonists of those cases, and experiment with new collaborative approaches to making progress.

Over the years, the symposium has tackled the following themes:

Why collaboration matters

The first Symposium focused on the why – why collaboration among all stakeholders is essential to tackle pressing social and environmental challenges. We began to explore the willingness of diverse groups to work together, while raising awareness of the opportunities for businesses to align their purpose with broader societal and environmental needs.

What collaboration can achieve

In 2023, we focused on the kind of solutions multistakeholder collaboration could bring about. Having laid the foundation for more ambitious work, we moved beyond discussion to equip participants with critical tools for multistakeholder collaboration and co-created actionable solutions for advancing social and sustainability objectives.

How to put purpose in action

The third year delved into how to put purpose into action. Building on the successful use of case studies the previous year, the case studies in 2024 illustrated how organisations can effectively empower collaboration to facilitate change

How to tackle difficult decisions

The 2025 edition of our symposium zoomed in on the frameworks and processes that organisations can put in place to aid decision-making that reconciles purpose, profit and societal value – a key challenge that surfaced at all previous Symposiums.

What’s next ?

The 4th annual Symposium marked a full cycle of learning, reflection, and growth. Looking ahead, our focus shifts to expanding the impact of this work through a sector-focused lifelong learning programme – delivered over several weeks to deepen engagement. As the Symposium moves to a biennial rhythm, we’ll use the in-between years to adapt the format, build targeted training modules, and stay responsive to emerging trends. Refreshing and evolving the material will ensure it remains relevant, practical, and ready for the challenges ahead.